Spanish media, as per the report in The Guardian, reported the outbreak at the General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme research base on Monday.
Since the pandemic began, Antarctica has now recorded its first-ever case of the novel coronavirus. 6 new infections are reported among people stationed at a Chilean research base, according to the reports. These included 26 members of the Chilean army and 10 maintenance workers.
Spanish media, as per the report in The Guardian, reported the outbreak at the General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme research base on Monday.
The 36 infected individuals were evacuated to Punta Arenas in Chile to have them placed under isolation.
The report said three crew members on a ship providing support to the base were also tested positive. They had returned from their mission to Antarctica.
All major research projects in the Antarctic, in a bid to prevent Covid-19 spread, have been halted, the Guardian said.
“Thanks to the timely preventive action it was possible to relieve said personnel, who, after being subjected to a medical control and the administration of a PCR test … turned out to be positive for Covid-19, “The Guardian report cited Newsweek as quoting the Chilean army.
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